Carrier transfer means



y 1933- c. 5. JENNINGS ET AL. ,143

CARRIER TRANSFER MEANS Filed March 19, 1929 '2 Shets-Sheet 1 fiz kiai oi kas-ler' 6. elaanirgys May 1933- c. 5. JENNINGS ET AL CARRIER TRANSFER MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 19. 1929 4.9 .Zazwgevci'am kaslerirlm W L an nzi llerv Patented May 30, 1933 rarnr FFlCE CHESTER S. JENNINGS AND LAVONT O. ALLEN, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE LAIlISON COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- GHUSETTS CARRIER TRANSFER MEANS Application filed March 19, 1929. 'Serial No. 348,262.

This invention relates to improvements .in conveyor systems, and more particularly to means arranged to expedite the movement of an article, such as a carrier box, from an elongate conveyor moving in one direction onto another conveyor.

In order to cause a carrier box, or the like, moving upon one conveyor to pass, for example, onto a parallel conveyor moving in the opposite direction, we preferably provide deflector arms swingable to a. position where they extend across the path of articles upon the first conveyor to turn the same through an arc of substantially 180 as they pass onto the other conveyor. These deflector arms may be selectively operated in any suitable manner, for example automatically in response to the posi-. tioning of pins or contacts upon the carrier boxes themselves, which are adapted to operate suitable deflector control mechanism to cause the box to be returned upon theconveyor moving in the opposite direction when it arrives -at the desired deflector. Suchdefiector control mechanism is shown for example in Patent N o. 1,535,07 5 to T. S. Knap.

In order to permit the turning of the box in a comparatively small space, we preferably provide pivot or balancing rolls between the two conveyors; these rolls preferably are positioned so that their planes of rotation may conform to the direction of movement of articles between the conveyors. Preferably these rolls are provided with more or less convex peripheral portions so that they provide a limited region of contact for engagement with the bottom of the carrier box which swings upon the same, thus in effect comprising more or less spherical, pivotal supports to permit the ready swinging of a carrier box which substantially rests upon these rolls as it passes from one conveyor to another.

Means are provided to prevent the inter ference of boxes on the receiving conveyor with boxes deflected onto the same from the conveyor moving in a different direction. Thus, a suitable control member may be associated with the receiving conveyor and may be actuated in response to the movement of a box thereon toward the point where carrier boxes are received from the other conveyor in order to prevent a section of the latter from operating until the box which has actuated the control means passes the point where carriers are received by the first conveyor. A delay factor is associated V with the control means so that in response to a single actuation of the latter the movement of the independently controlled section of the other conveyor is interrupted for a predetermined length of time, at the end of which, unless thecontrol'means has Y ing conveyors;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of such a roll; 1

Fig. 5 is a sideelevational view of a portionof the conveyor mechanism:

. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan View of a portion of the two conveyors at the region of carrier deflection; and v Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram particularly illustrating the control means for the independently operable conveyor section.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and first more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, it may be seen thatthe conveyor 1, (for convenience termed the 'primaryconveyor) is arranged to move in one direction, and that the conveyor 2 (hereinafter termed the secondary or receiving) disposed beside the same maybe arranged to move in theopposite direction. While we have illustrated herewith but a single deflector, a corresponding independently controllable belt section 3, and a deflector 4 associated with conveyor 1, it is to be understood that ordinarily a plurality of deflectors 4 may be provided at suitable intervals so that carriers may pass along the conveyor 1 for different distances, thereupon engaging a selected deflector 4, and being swung outwardly onto balancing rolls 5, and thence onto the receiving conveyor 2 which may return them to the point of origin. While the deflectors 4 may be actuated in any suitable manner, preferably they may be operated by suitable control means which is responsive to a predetermined positioning of actuating pins or tabs upon the carrier boxes. Thus, when the pin upon a box is properly positioned, it will cause the desired deflector 4 to be actuated so that it extends substantially across the conveyor 1, engaging the front of the oncoming carrier, and turning the same substantially at an angle to its former position. In the meantime the bottom of the carrier is engaged withthe surfaces of one or more balancing rolls 5 which, during the mid-portion of the movement of the carrier from one conveyor to the other, substantially support the carrier so that its ends merely lightly engage the oppositely moving conveyor belts, thus the turning of a carrier in a limited space is facilitated. A rail 95 extends along beside conveyor 2 opposite deflector 4 to prevent undesirable lateral movement of transferred carriers.

One advantageous form of balancing roll is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. This roll may be supported upon a bracket or channel 7 bridging the space between the side rails 10 and 11 of conveyors 1 and 2 respectively. Each roller preferably is provided with a more or less convexly curved peripheral portion 6, for example, having its peripheral face oppositely beveled or curved as shown. The roller has a hub portion 12 rotatable upon an axle 15 which is held against longitudinal movement in relation to a U-shaped supporting bracket 20, by double ended retaining pins 18 engageable in diametrically opposed recesses 19 at the axle ends. A bolt 23 extends through the opening 21 in bracket 20 and through one of a series of corresponding openings 27 in the channel 7, being re tained in place by a nut 24. Thus rolls 5 may swivel about bolts 23 and their planes of rotation may vary somewhat; ordinarily the bolts are tightened, firmly holding the rolls in such a position that these planes in tersect the paths of carrier movement upon the conveyors.

In order' to prevent the interference of a carrier upon conveyor 2 with the transfer of a carrier from one conveyor to the other, special control means are arranged to permita carrier upon the receiving belt to interrupt the movement of the belt section 3 of conveyor 1. As shown more particularly in Fig. 5, this belt section 3 is supported upon individual rolls 30, one of which carries a drive sprocket 31 engageable by a chain 32 that is driven by an electric motor 5 upon a lateral extension 78 of arm 40. Lead is connected by a lead 49 to one side of a switch 52 which is connected by a lead 76 to the driving motor 34. A return lead connects the latter to the source of current supply. A contact 46, connected to a lead 48, is adapted to be engaged by the movable contact element 77 when the arm 40 is deflected by engagement with a carrier upon conveyor 2. Thus, vthe movement of a box past the control arm 40 closes a circuit through leads 75 and 48 to energize a solenoid 50 to move an armature 51; the latter is adapted to open the motor controlling switch 52 which is associated with a delay factor 54, any suitable conventional switch closing and delay factor being useful. for this purpose. ,For the purpose of illustration, however, I have shown the bar 51 connected to one end of a rocking lever 57,the opposite end of which is connected to a plunger59, the end of the latter being fixed i to a piston 60 in a dash-pot cylinder 61. This cylinder may have a small opening 62 admitting atmospheric air, and an outwardly opening check valve 63. The lower end of plunger 59 is also connected to a switch arm 7 O, the intermediate portion of which is pivotally mounted upon a bracket 71, and the end of which carries a contact 72 engageable with a fixed contact 73 to compose the switch 52 that when closed permits operation of the motor.

'A spring normally tends to draw the plunger 59 downwardly and to hold the switch 52 closed. When element 7 7 engages contact 46 due to the actuation of arm 40 by a carrier box on conveyor 2, current passes to the solenoid 50, the plunger 59 being pushed upwardly by the arm 57 so that air passes out through check valve 63, the piston rapidly moving to the top of the cylinder, and the contacts 72 and 7 3 being separated'so that current may no longer pass to motor 34. The motor accordingly stops, and the belt 3 no longer moves so that a Cal carrier box approaching the deflector 4 upon conveyor 1 will not continue its movement until the box upon conveyor 2 has passed the point of carrier reception. It may be noted, however, that belt 3 is slightly spaced from the deflector so that a box or article which has practically arrived at the point of deflection may move onto the receiving conveyor before the boxes upon the latter arrive at this point. As soon as the solenoid is tie-energized, due to the movement of the carrier out of engagement with arm 40, the spring 85 will start the plunger and piston downwardly in opposition to atmospheric pressure upon the latter; this movement will only take place gradually, since there is a sub-atmospheric pressure above the piston and air is only gradually admitted through orifice 62. lVhen the circuit between leads l9 and 76 is closed, the motor 84 will be started and belt 3 again be driven.

It is thus evident that we have provided means facilitating the movement or deflection of a carrier box from a conveyor moving in one direction to an adjoining conveyor moving in an opposite direction, such means facilitating the turning of the box in a comparatively limited area and preventing the interference of other boxes upon the receiving conveyor with such a turning movement.

While for purposes of clarity of illustration, we have shown the pivot rolls and delay mechanism as most advantageously associated with oppositely moving conveyors, it is evident that the principles of this invention are also applicable to conveyors which are moving in the same direction or which are at an angle to each other.

We claim:

1. A pair of conveyors, means to deflect articles from one conveyor to the other, a control member adjoining one conveyor, said member being yieldably held in the path of articles on that conveyor and being movable in response to such an article thereon approaching the deflecting means, a section of the other conveyor being independently driven, said control member being independent of the article on the second named conveyor and adapted to stop movement of said conveyor section in response to its movement by an article, and delay means causing the continued interruption of the movement of said conveyor section for a predetermined time after the article on the first named conveyor has left the control member.

2. Primary and secondary conveyors moving in opposite directions, means to transfer articles from the primary to the secondary conveyor, a control member adjoining the secondary conveyor, said member being yieldably held in the path of articles on that conveyor and being movable in response to each article thereon approaching the deflecting means, a section of one conveyor belng independently driven, an electrlc motor driving the same, a switch controlling the motor, said control member being independent of the articles on the primary consection of the other conveyor being inde-.

pendently driven, an electric motor driving the same, a switch controlling the motor, electro-magnetic means to determine the condition of said switch, said control member being independent of the articles on the other conveyor and adapted to energize said electro-magnetic controlling switch means so that its movement by an article is effective in opening the motor switch, and a delay factor holding the switch open for a predetermined time after the effect of the control member upon the electro-magnetic means has ceased.

4. Conveyor apparatus comprising means defining distinct paths along which articles may move and from one of which they may pass into the other path, means for advanca control member adjoining one con-i ing articles along one path and safety means to prevent interference between articles moving along one path with articles entering it from the other path, said safety means being adapted to stop the means for advancing articles along one of said paths and operable independent of the presence of articles thereon and comprising an element actuable by a passing article moving along the other path, said safety means including a timing device to insure the stopping of the article advancing means by the safety means for a predetermined period after passage of the actuating article.

5. Conveyor apparatus comprising means defining distinct paths along which articles may move and from one of which they may pass into the other, means for advancing articles along one path, and safety means to prevent interference between articles moving along one path with articles entering it from the other path, said safety means comprising a detector actuable by a passing article moving along one path, means responsive to movement of the detector to stop the means for advancing articles along the other path and operable independent of the presence of articles thereon, and timing means for retaining the stopping means in operation for a predetermined period after passage of the actuating article by the detector.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising two conveyor paths along which articles may move, and from one of which they may be diverted into the other, means for advancing articles along onepath and safety means to prevent interference between articles moving along one path with articles centering from the other path, said safety means comprising a detector actuable by a passing article moving along one path, means responsive to movement of the detector to stop the means for advancing an article along one of said paths and operable independent of the presence of articles thereon, and a dashpot device for retaining the stopping means in operation for a predetermined period after disengagement of the detector by the actuating article.

Signed by :us at Syracuse, New York this 12th day of March 1929.

CHESTER S. JENNINGS.

LAVONT G. ALLEN. 

